Feeder for steam-boilers



No. 750,085. PATENTED JAIL-19; 1904-.-

J.J.BURKB. V EEEDEE FOR STEAM BOILERS.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

MW" N i E lIl fizz avatar: Ja/mes J, EMF/0e 1m: Noam: veransw. PHOTO-LUNG WASNINGTOI. n. c.

)Vitnesses:

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES'J, BURKE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

' FEEDER FOR STEAM-BOILERS;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,085, dated January 19, 1904.

Application filed April 29, 1903.

ter may be automatically fed to said generator when the water-level therein falls below a certain predetermined line.

My invention has for a further object an improved organization of devices whereby a series of boilers comprising a battery may be automatically supplied with water, but in such a manner that each boiler. of the series may be filled independently of the other, so that when it is desired to blow off or clean out any boiler the particular device which is connected with such boiler may be cut out of operation without in any way interfering with the water-supply for the remaining boilers of said series.

Whil'e primarily the mechanism for supplying each boiler with water is, as above stated, automatic in action, my invention comprises'means whereby water may be supplied to any boiler in the series through means controlled by hand operation should the automatic device be ineflicient in action.

Further objects of the invention will be stated in the description of the construction and mode of operation of the apparatus here-- inafter given.

One of the objections in steam -'operate'd mechanisms is the employment of stuflElngboxes or similar devices, whereby leakage of steam or water around the rods, which may be either piston or valve rods, may be avoided, and in the feed-waterapparatus forming the subject-matter'ofthe present invention such stilling-boxes have been omitted. The several steamor'water passages, with their valves, are so organized that no"'leakage 'ca n occur, and the mov1ng"parts'such'as' valve stem s,

Serial No. 154,764. (No model.)

&c.are free to be actuated without the friction necessarily resulting when said stuffingboxes are employed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, showing the general organization of my improved feed-Water apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a view of a modification of the device for regulating the admission of water into the boiler.

Like characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1O designates a boiler, the steam-dome of which is connected with a pipe 11, having a valve 12, whereby said boiler may be cut out when required. Feed-water to be pumped into the boiler maybe supplied into a tank 13 by a water-main 14, connected with a city service pipe. This supply-pipe is in direct communication with a chamber 15, the inclosing walls of which have ports for the reception of valves 16 17, secured on a rod 18. These valves are of theordinary puppet style, and the valverod 18 is. connected with an angle-lever 19.,

fulcru-med at 20 and operated to open and close said valvesas, for instance, by a float 21, supported by said arm 19 and adapted for rising-and-falling movement within the tank 13. In the drawings the float 21 is shown in its raised position and the valves 16 and 17 are closed, so that in the present instance no water from the pipe 14 can enter the tank 13, while it will of course be understood that the position of the float will be governed by the I rise and fall of water in said tank.

A device is provided whereby the action of the float 21 may be assisted and accelerated during the movement of closing the valves, and this device comprises, preferably, aweight 22, mounted for rolling movement on an arm 19, having an abutment 19, so that when said float is in its lowermost position the weight 22 will be disposed against said abutment 19 upon the free end of the arm 19 and-will thus exert a leverage inmaintaining said float 21 immersed to a greater extent than the buoy ancy thereof would normally permit. For this reason the float 21 must during its rising movement overcome the additional leverage of the weight 22 until the lever 19 has been raised sufficiently to permit said weight to roll down toward its fulcrum and in this manner relieve the float from the extra pressure, so that the full buoyancy of the float 21 may now become effective in closing said valves 16 and 17, and as a matter of course, a great deal more quickly than would be the case if the float were rising with the water-line of the tank 13.

Chamber is, when the valves 16 and 17 are open, in direct communication with an outer chamber 23, which is in its preferred form connected with pipe 24 and with the bottom of the tank 13. Also entering said tank 13 may be a pipe 25, through which hot water resulting from condensation of exhauststeam may be conducted into said tank without in any way interfering with the operation of the mechanism which controls the supply of fresh water thereto.

Connected with the tank 13 by a pipe 26 is a pump P, the discharge-chamber of which is in communication with a pipe 27 leading directly to a reservoir in communication with the boiler. In Fig. 1 the pipe 27 is shown in communication with a chamber 28, which may be opened or closed relatively to an inner chamber 29-as, for instance, by valves 30 and 31, mounted upon a valve-rod 32,which is connected with one arm of an angle-lever 33, fulcrumed at 34, and the other arm of which carries a float and is provided with an abut-' ment 33. This float is mounted for risingand-falling movement within a tank 36, the top of which is in constant communication with the steam-space of the boileras, for instance, through pipes 37 and 38while at the same time the bottom of said tank 36 is in constant communication with the water-space of the boiler by a pipe 39, which is also connected with the outer chamber 29, above referred to. Hence it will be understood that the water-line within the tank 36 is on a level with the water-line of the boiler.

Tank 36, float 35, and the valves 30 31, connected to said float, constitute a controlling device wherebywater may be admitted into the boiler whenever the water-level thereof falls below a certain predetermined line, and by referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that as the float falls'said valves 30 and 31 will be opened, thereby permitting water under pressure in the chamber 28 to enter said tank 36. Likewise it will be understood that when the float 35 rises said valves will be closed and the fall of water into the tank 36 stopped, the rapidity of such closing movement being in the present instance controlled by a rolling weight 40 upon the long arm of anglelever 33, the function of which weight is similar to that of the weight 22, above described.

\Vhile under some conditions it may be desirable to have the feed-pump P running continuously, my invention comprises a device whereby the pump may be started automatically whenever the water-line in the boiler falls below its predetermined level, so that the pump operates only when there is a deficiency of water in the boiler. In the drawings this device is designated by C and comprises an outer chamber 41 in communication with the steamspace of the boiler by pipes 42 and 43, the latter of which is in communication with the pipe 38, above mentioned. Steam is also admitted to the right-hand side of a diaphragm 44, controlling the position of a valve-rod 45, having valves 46 and 47, which are adapted to open and close ports into an inner chamber 48, which through the pipe 49 is in direct and constant communication with the steam-chest of the pump P. It will be now understood that as long as the pressure on the right-hand side of the diaphragm 44 exceeds that exerted on the other side of said diaphragm the valves 46 47 will be opened, thus admitting steam to said pump P, which may therefore pump water into the pipe 27 and chamber 28, and in order fully to control the supply of steam to the pump I deem it preferable to connect said pump with the left-hand side of the chamber of diaphragm 44 by a pipe 50, connected with the waterpipe 27 so that when the pressure in the pipe 27 is in excess of that exerted on the righthand side of said diaphragm valve-rod will be moved to close the valves 46 47, and thus interrupt the admission of steam to the pump. While under ordinary conditions the pressure on both sides of the diaphragm 44 will be equal, I provide on the valve-rod 45 a spring 51, which will assist in forcing said rod toward the left, so that in reality it will take more force on the left side of the diaphragm to close the valve,-the required force for such purpose being equal to that of the steam-pressure in the chamber 41 and in addition thereto the power of the spring 51. It will now be evi-- dent that when the water in the boiler has risen to the required height, thus raising the float 35 sufliciently to close the valves 30 and 31, the pump will force water into the pipe 27 until the supply of steam to said pump is shut off by the pressure of said water against the diaphragm 44, and from the above description it will readily be seen that the pressure in pipe 27 may be controlled at will by varying the strength of spring 51, it being understood, however, that the pressure in the steam-preswith the steam-pipe 42, above referred to, so that in this case the steam-pressure on both sides of the diaphragm will be balanced and only the spring 51 will be effective in opening the valves 46 and 47 to admit steam to the pump.

While the organization thus far-described has reference particularly to the supply of water to a boiler 10, it will be evident that other boilers in series may be supplied through the same means from the pump P, a pipe 53 being provided which may lead to one or more boilers of a battery, the steam-spaces of which may be in communication with the controlling device C-as, for instance, by a pipe 54, connected with the pipe 43, above mentioned.

As above stated, my invention comprises means for cutting out any one boiler of the series, and in the preferred form thereof shown the steam-pipe 38, which is in communication with the pipe 43 through an intermediate pipe 54, has a valve 55, whereby steam from pipe 54 may be shut off from entering. either of the pipes 37 or 38. It is deemed preferable to provide a valve, such as 56, in the water pipe 27, so that water may be prevented, when desired, from entering the chamber 28. Hence it will be seen that when the valves 55 and 56 and 12 are closed the boiler 10 is cut out entirely from the battery and may therefore be cleaned and blown 01f without in any way interfering with the other boilers.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings there is shown a modification of the tank 36, especially as re" gards the valve-operating mechanism. In

, this case should the valves stick the lever 33 may be rocked on its fulcrum, a screw or similar device 60 being provided in the cover of the tank 86, so that when it is desired to open the valves 30 31, should they adhere to their seats from any cause, due to accident or otherwise, said screw 60 may be manipulated to force said float 35 downward and open the Valves, the supply being then regulated by valve 56. In this instance the rolling weight 40 has been dispensed with, and a spring, such as 61, surrounding the valve-rod, may be employed in lieu thereof to aid in opening the valves when the float falls.

Changes may be made in the form and proportions of the parts, and they may be differently disposed without departure from the invention. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a steam-generator, of a tank located adjacent to said generator; pipes connecting said tank with the steam and water spaces of said generator; a float in the tank; a lever to which the float is pivoted; a primary feed-water-sup'ply receptacle; a valve-chamber carried by the tank; valve mechanism in said chamber, and controlled by the lever to which the float is pivtor, of atank located adiacent to said generator; pipes leading from said tank to the water and steam spaces of the generator; a float in the tank; a pivoted lever to which said float is connected; a primary feed-water receptacle; a valve-chamber adjacent to the tank; valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, and connected to the pivoted lever; a supply-pipe to the valve-chamber; a pump for forcing water into said supply-pipe; means for connecting said pump with the primary feed-water receptacle; and 7 means for automatically starting and stopping the pump.

3. The combination, with a steam-generator, of a tank connected with the steam and water spaces of said generator; a float in said tank; a valve-chamber; a chamber surrounding said valve-chamber; valve mechanism in the valve-chamber; means for connecting said valve mechanism with the float in the tank; a pipe for supplying water to thevalve-chamber; a conduit connecting the valve-chamber with the steam-generator and with the tank; a pump for forcing water into the pipe leading to the valve-chamber; a controlling device for said pump; a second valve-chamber; and steam connections leading to said controlling device, and from said second valve-chamber to the pump.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a steam-generator, of a feed-water-supply tank located adjacent to said generator; means for connecting said tank with the steam and water spaces ofthe boiler; a float in said tank; a two-armed lever pivoted in the tank; means for accelerating the action of said lever; avalve-chamber in communication with the tank; valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, said mechanism being controlled by the float; a water-supply pipe; a pump in communication with said water-supply pipe; valve mechanism for'controlling the supply of steam to said pump; a chamber in which said mechanism is located; and a steam-pipe communicating with said chamber.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a steam generator, of a feed-water-supply tank; means for connecting said supply-tank with the steam and water spaces of the steam-generator; a float in said supply-tank; a pivoted lever to which the float is connected; means for accelerating the motion of said lever; valve mechanism connected to one arm' of said lever; a valve-chamber; a supply-pipe leading to said valve-chamber; a steam-pipe leading to said valve-chamber; a pump; a steam-pipe leading to the pump; valve mechanism for controlling the supply of steam to the pump; a chamber in which said mechanism is located; a balanced diaphragm connected with the mechanism in said chamber; steam and water connections for controlling the movement of said diaphragm; and a steam-pipe leading from the steam-generator to the valve-chamber.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a generator, of a feed-Watersupply tank located adjacent to said generator; means for connecting said tank with the steam and water spaces of the generator; a float in said supply-tank; a pivoted lever to one arm of which the float is connected; a valve-rod connected to the other arm of said lever; a chamber; a pair of valves for opening and closing ports in said chamber, said valves being carried by the valve-rod; a water-supply pipe leading to the valve-chamber; a pump in communication with said water-supply pipe; a steam pipe; a chamber into which said steam-pipe passes, said chamber having an extension; a valve-chamber within the chamber having an extension; a diaphragm in the extension of said chamber; a branch pipe leading from the water-supply tank to the diaphragmchamber; valve mechanism in the valve chamber and controlled by the diaphragm; and a steam-pipe leading from the valve-chamber to the pump.

7 The combination, with a steam-generator, of a tank connected with the steam and water spaces of said generator; a float in the tank; a valve-chamber communicating with the tank; valves in said valve-chamber; means for connecting said valves with the float; a water-supply pipe to the valve-chamber; a pump communicating With the Water-supply pipe; a chamber surrounding the valve-chamber; a conduit leading from the surrounding chamber to the tank and to the steam-generator; a diaphragm-chamber; a pipe connecting the Water-supply pipe to the valve-chamber with the diaphragm-chamber; a pump communicating with the watersupply pipe; a diaphragm in the diaphragm-chamber; valve mechanism controlled by the diaphragm; a pipe for supplying steam to the valve-chamher; and a pipe leading from the valve-cham her to the pump.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a steam-generator, of means for automatically supplying water to said generator; a tank constituting a part of said means; a float in said. tank; means for manually actuating said float when required; a valve-chamber; and valve mechanism mounted in said valve-chamber and connected with the float.

In testimony whereof I alflx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES J. BURKE.

lVitnesses:

MARY C. BLoDenT'r, L. S. BLODGIGTT. 

